Satin Finish vs Chrome Finish

[Strassi_Br]

What is the pros and cons of both ? Why you would buy one type over the other? Other useful information about the finish would help me out alot.

 

[Davefr]

Do you mean satin vs full polish. (ie they are both chrome)

Full Polish:
- Easier to clean
- Easier to see
- Looks prettier if you're a tool polisher

Satin:
- A little better grip
- Sometime cheaper

The third finish (or lack thereof) is black industrial:
- No chance of peeling/flaking chrome

 

[Steevo]

I'll assume you are referring to tools, since you didn't state it.

Chrome wrenches wipe down more quickly and completely than satin finish ones.
Chrome wrenches are more slippery in the hand than satin ones when wet/oily.

Chrome tools are higher maintenance, because you don't bother wiping fingerprints from a satin wrench, but a drawer full of chrome ones compels you to do so.

 

[rusty65]

Also satin will rust more easily then a chrome finish will.

 

[Strassi_Br]

I'll assume you are referring to tools, since you didn't state it.

I just assumed that people would know that I am talking about tools because it under General Tool Discussion on this forum.

 

[Steevo]

I just assumed that people would know that I am talking about tools because it under General Tool Discussion on this forum.

When you have been here long enough, you will learn not to "assume" anything, without stating what you are assuming.

 

[jontar]

satin are the best, becuase they hide all the scratches and dings from being used, only auto mechanics and the gj tool polishers would be interested in chrome mirror like finishes. It allowes them to open up there toolboxes where all the tools are neatly set into place and talk about how they once worked hard using the tools, only to wake up in the morning realizing it was all just a dream.

 

[CWP1616L]

It depends on the satin finish. Some satin finishes are rough and unattractive. Other satin finishes like what TopTul has are more refined and professional looking. I think they call theirs a "Water Satin."

 

[Gotmayhem]

Depends on the Chrome finish too, there's a huge difference between Snap On or Beta chrome and a dollar store chrome wrench.Not just in looks but in durability as well.

Personally I prefer chrome. It looks great when all cleaned up and I don't think I've ever had a serious problem with it being too slick. When tools get covered in grease they look all the same anyways though. Black industrial is also preferable to me over regular satin, on account of it looking badass.

 

[pipsters]

For wrenches I prefer nice chrome, for sockets for some reason I like the look of the industrial satin finish.

Like this:

 

[Chadwilliam1]

full polish looks better. Also at work they claim snap on chrome is fod rated. I was told snap on chrome wont chip. Anybody know anything about that?

 

[Thunderbisciut]

I prefer satin myself, but I buy whatever I get a deal on reguardless of finish. I really really like the satin finish on the older Wright wrenches, the newer ones are more "chromie".

 

[rusty65]

Hey chad i have a couple snap on deep sockets from 2005-2006 and a couple of them have slight chrome chipping and a stubby snap on extension i have also has chrome chipping maybe i just have bad luck but i think all chrome platting no matter how tough can chip.

 

[bobemmerich]

I have both. I do like the look of the chrome, but the satin feels better as far as grip. I've beaten on both, and they seem to take abuse well. I also have some "industrial finish" black oxide wrenches, and above all I like the finish and feel of these better.

 

[Stuey]

I prefer satin, actually. Black finishes as well, if it doesn't come off on my hands.

USA chrome isn't what it used to be since the better preparation chemicals are banned. At least I'm hoping that's the reason my last USA Craftsman Pro wrenches look dull dirty.

 

[pipsters]

I prefer satin, actually. Black finishes as well, if it doesn't come off on my hands.

USA chrome isn't what it used to be since the better preparation chemicals are banned. At least I'm hoping that's the reason my last USA Craftsman Pro wrenches look dull dirty.

The chrome should not have looked dull and dirty. I bought some Industrial Craftsman wrenches, the chroming is beautiful. I did have some old US Craftsman Pro wrenches with some issues with the chrome being dingy, but I attributed that to sitting on the shelf for half a decade.

 

[bcradio]

When you have been here long enough, you will learn not to "assume" anything, without stating what you are assuming.

Boy ain't that the truth.

I think one big pro for satin is it doesn't show dirt/grime as much as full polish.

 

[Chuck122]

it's harder to loose miror-like chrome tools under a hood or a seat. unless you work on some sort of showcar

 

[Stuey]

The chrome should not have looked dull and dirty. I bought some Industrial Craftsman wrenches, the chroming is beautiful. I did have some old US Craftsman Pro wrenches with some issues with the chrome being dingy, but I attributed that to sitting on the shelf for half a decade.

Maybe that's the word I was looking for - dingy.

I have 2 Craftsman Pro inch sets - a 9pc set, and a 13pc set. Each of the 13pc wrenches looks awful compared to the 9pc set purchased 2 years before. I've tried cleaning them with a rag, and they still look awful. Both look like trash compared to Taiwan-made Gearwrench or Kobalt wrenches.

I got them at a deep discount and they're not flaking, but something just looks off with the entire set's chrome. In any case, I'm liking satin finishes more and more these days. In how I use wrenches, satin vs. full polish doesn't really have a performance difference for me, so I look at cost, durability, and not having to clean off greasy fingerprints as much.

 

[bonneyman]

I've got Bonney wrenches in both full polish and satin finish. Never really thought about it before, and I don't have them next to one another. The full polish definitely looks nicer, but, (to my eyes anyway) the satin versions of the same wrenches look thicker. Guess all of them start out as satin, and the polished ones get some material removed to get them smooth.

 

[rlitman]

Maybe that's the word I was looking for - dingy.

It depends on what you're looking at. The new chrome is darker.
I don't think it looks worst. My old Craftsman chrome stuff looks brighter than the new stuff and the difference is easily visible, but the surface prep under the chrome makes the most difference in how it looks.

 

[woody 73]

Sometimes I get those chrome flakes that bite into my skin hurts like hell; not so with the satin wrenches. Satin also tends to hide the scratch marks much better then the chrome wrenches.

 

[Stuey]

It depends on what you're looking at. The new chrome is darker.
I don't think it looks worst. My old Craftsman chrome stuff looks brighter than the new stuff and the difference is easily visible, but the surface prep under the chrome makes the most difference in how it looks.

It's not that it was darker, but that it was darker and non-uniform.

 

[Stuey]

Sometimes I get those chrome flakes that bite into my skin hurts like hell; not so with the satin wrenches. Satin also tends to hide the scratch marks much better then the chrome wrenches.

What are you doing to your tools that the chrome is flaking off? If you have flakey chrome, replace the tools immediately. Except for abusive usage, that's usually grounds for warranty replacement.

 

[rlitman]

It's not that it was darker, but that it was darker and non-uniform.

Ahhh yes, I know exactly what you're talking about. That's poor polishing under the chrome. Any unevenness under the chrome shows up in the surface.

General waviness that reeks of poor quality and Chinese craftsmanship.